U.S. patent application number 11/424830 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-22 for rich multi-media format for use in a collaborative computing system.
Invention is credited to Alfred Lian Fui Pong, Songxiang Wei, Min Zhu.
Application Number | 20070044017 11/424830 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28040519 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070044017 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zhu; Min ; et al. |
February 22, 2007 |
Rich Multi-Media Format For Use in a Collaborative Computing
System
Abstract
A system, method, and article of manufacture that allow a
document containing custom objects to be shared in a distributed
collaborative computer system. This is accomplished by allowing
custom objects to be embedded in a document. When the document is
to be shared, the document with custom objects is converted to a
Rich Multi-Media (RMM) format. Furthermore, the converted document
may be shared during a collaborative session among multiple
computers. Alternatively, the converted document may be viewed by a
user independent of a collaborative session.
Inventors: |
Zhu; Min; (Los Altos,
CA) ; Wei; Songxiang; (San Jose, CA) ; Pong;
Alfred Lian Fui; (Millbrae, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ORRICK, HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE, LLP;IP PROSECUTION DEPARTMENT
4 PARK PLAZA
SUITE 1600
IRVINE
CA
92614-2558
US
|
Family ID: |
28040519 |
Appl. No.: |
11/424830 |
Filed: |
June 16, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10104170 |
Mar 21, 2002 |
|
|
|
11424830 |
Jun 16, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/209 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/10 20130101;
G06F 40/166 20200101; G06F 40/169 20200101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/530 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/00 20060101
G06F017/00 |
Claims
1. A computer system for viewing a document, the computer system
comprising: a computer; and a computer program executable by the
computer, wherein the computer program comprises computer
instructions for: identifying an embedded custom object in the
document; inserting information about the embedded custom object
into a rich multi-media format document; inserting the embedded
custom object into the rich multi-media format document; and
rendering the embedded custom object in the rich multi-media format
document using the inserted information during a collaborative
session.
2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the computer program
further comprises instructions for: rendering the embedded custom
object in the rich multi-media format document by invoking a
component application.
3. A computer system for converting a document for distributed
collaborative computing, the computer system comprising: a
computer; and a computer program executable by the computer,
wherein the computer program comprises computer instructions for:
scanning a portion of a document for a custom object; and inserting
information about the custom object into a rich multi-media format
document; and inserting the custom object into the rich multi-media
format document.
4. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the computer program
further comprises computer instructions for: obtaining an
identifier for the custom object.
5. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the computer program
further comprises computer instructions for: scanning the portion
of the document for a non-custom object; and inserting the
non-custom object into the rich multi-media format document.
6. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the computer program
further comprises computer instructions for: embedding the custom
object into the rich multi-media format document.
7. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the computer program
further comprises computer instructions for: inserting a link to
the custom object into the rich multi-media format document.
8. A computer system for converting a document for distributed
collaborative computing, the computer system comprising: a
computer; and a computer program executable by the computer,
wherein the computer program comprises computer instructions for:
scanning a portion of a document for an object; identifying whether
the object is a custom object or a non-custom object; if the object
is a custom object, obtaining identification information for the
custom object; inserting the identification information about the
custom object into a rich multi-media format document; and
inserting the custom object into the rich multi-media format
document; and if the object is a non-custom object, inserting
information about the non-custom object into the rich multi-media
format document; and inserting the non-custom object into the rich
multi-media format document.
9. A method for viewing a document, comprising: identifying an
embedded custom object in the document; inserting information about
the embedded custom object into a rich multi-media format document;
inserting the embedded custom object into the rich multi-media
format document; and rendering the embedded custom object in the
rich multi-media format document using the inserted information
during a collaborative session.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: rendering the
embedded custom object in the rich multi-media format document by
invoking a component application.
11. A method for converting a document for distributed
collaborative computing, the method comprising: scanning a portion
of a document for a custom object; and inserting information about
the custom object into a rich multi-media format document; and
inserting the custom object into the rich multi-media format
document.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: obtaining an
identifier for the custom object.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising: scanning the
portion of the document for a non-custom object; and inserting the
non-custom object into the rich multi-media format document.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein inserting the custom object
further comprises: embedding the custom object into the rich
multi-media format document.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein inserting the custom object
further comprises: inserting a link to the custom object into the
rich multi-media format document.
16. A method for converting a document for distributed
collaborative computing, the method comprising: scanning a portion
of a document for an object; identifying whether the object is a
custom object or a non-custom object; if the object is a custom
object, obtaining identification information for the custom object;
inserting the identification information about the custom object
into a rich multi-media format document; and inserting the custom
object into the rich multi-media format document; and if the object
is a non-custom object, inserting information about the non-custom
object into the rich multi-media format document; and inserting the
non-custom object into the rich multi-media format document.
17. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program
executable by a computer, the computer program comprising computer
instructions for: identifying an embedded custom object in the
document; inserting information about the embedded custom object
into a rich multi-media format document; inserting the embedded
custom object into the rich multi-media format document; and
rendering the embedded custom object in the rich multi-media format
document using the inserted information during a collaborative
session.
18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the
computer program further comprises computer instructions for:
rendering the embedded custom object in the rich multi-media format
document by invoking a component application.
19. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program
executable by a computer, the computer program comprising computer
instructions for: scanning a portion of a document for a custom
object; and inserting information about the custom object into a
rich multi-media format document; and inserting the custom object
into the rich multi-media format document.
20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the
computer program further comprises computer instructions for:
obtaining an identifier for the custom object.
21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the
computer program further comprises computer instructions for:
scanning the portion of the document for a non-custom object; and
inserting the non-custom object into the rich multi-media format
document.
22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the
computer program further comprises computer instructions for:
embedding the custom object into the rich multi-media format
document.
23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the
computer program further comprises computer instructions for:
inserting a link to the custom object into the rich multi-media
format document.
24. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program
executable by a computer, the computer program comprising computer
instructions for: scanning a portion of a document for an object;
identifying whether the object is a custom object or a non-custom
object; if the object is a custom object, obtaining identification
information for the custom object; inserting the identification
information about the custom object into a rich multi-media format
document; and inserting the custom object into the rich multi-media
format document; and if the object is a non-custom object,
inserting information about the non-custom object into the rich
multi-media format document; and inserting the non-custom object
into the rich multi-media format document.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO CD-ROM APPENDIX
[0001] This application is a divisional of application Ser. No.
10/104,170 filed on Mar. 21, 2002, all of which is expressly
incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] An Appendix containing a computer program listing is
submitted on a compact disk, which is herein incorporated by
reference in its entirety. The total number of compact discs
including duplicates is two. Appendix A, which is part of the
present specification, contains a list of the files contained on
the compact disk. These listings contain material that is subject
to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to
the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the
patent disclosure, as it appears in the patent and trademark office
patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights
whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates generally to collaborative
computing systems and, more particularly, to embedding different
types of files into a document, converting the document to a Rich
Multi-Media (RMM) format, and sharing the converted document in a
collaborative computing system.
[0005] 2. Related Art
[0006] Traditional collaborative computing tools allow computer
users at different locations to communicate via a computer network
and share documents or applications stored and/or executed on one
of the user's computers. While both peer-to-peer and client-server
communication models have been used in the past, web-based
collaborative tools generally employ a client-server model.
[0007] For example, client-server application sharing (also
discussed in the context of "distributed computing") is described
in U.S. Pat. No. 5,434,852 "Distributed Processing Architecture for
Control of Broadband and Narrowband Communication Networks;" U.S.
Pat. No. 5,887,170 "System for Classifying and Sending Selective
Requests;" and U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,593 "Remote Application Control
for Low Bandwidth Application Sharing," all incorporated herein by
reference in their entireties. Other group communication techniques
are described by Ulrick Hall and Franz J. Hauck, "Promondia: A
Java-Based Framework for Real-time Group Communication in the Web,"
Proceedings of Sixth International World Wide Web Conference (Apr.
7-11, 1997); Lane Boyd, "Taking Collaboration Into Orbit," Computer
Graphics World, Vol. 21, No. 9, p. 36 (September 1998); and Eric
Ly, "Distributed Java Applets for Project Management on the Web,"
IEEE Internet Computing Online, Vol. 1, No. 3 (May/June 1997), all
incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
[0008] International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Standard T.120
is a family of open standards that provides both communications and
applications protocols to support real-time multipoint data
communications for collaboration and conferencing, among other
uses. This standard is outlined in "A Primer on the T.120 Series
Standard" by DataBeam Corp. (available at
http://mail.symuli.com/t120primer/t120primer-.html), incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety.
[0009] Traditional collaborative tools, however, are limited in the
types of documents that they allow to be shared. For example, a
Word.RTM. document may be shared, but the document typically only
contains text. That is, traditional collaborative tools do not
allow sharing of documents with embedded custom objects.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved collaborative
computing system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The system, method, and article of manufacture of the
present invention provide a distributed collaborative computer
system that allows a document containing custom objects to be
shared. This is accomplished by providing software to allow custom
objects to be embedded in a document. When the document is to be
shared, provided software converts the document to a Rich
Multi-Media (RMM) format. With use of the provided software, the
converted document may then be shared during a collaborative
session. As a result, the system, method, and article of
manufacture of the present invention allow a presenter at one
computer to create a document with different types of embedded
custom objects. During a collaborative session, the presenter
controls the viewing of the document, and users (e.g., attendees)
at other computers view the document in synch with the presenter.
The Rich Multi-Media format provided by the present invention
enables the embedded custom objects to be viewed at the users'
computers. Furthermore, the converted document may be viewed by a
user independent of a collaborative session.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The present disclosure may be better understood and its
numerous features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in
the art by referencing the accompanying drawings.
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a distributed collaborative computing
system, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention
[0013] FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C illustrate a hardware/software
structure of a presenter client computer, an attendee client
computer, and a server computer, in accordance with some
embodiments of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an operation for creating a
document and sharing the document at a meeting in a distributed
collaborative computer system, in accordance with some embodiments
of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an operation for embedding
custom objects into a document, in accordance with some embodiments
of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 5 illustrates an Insertion menu, in accordance with
some embodiments of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 6 illustrates an Insert Recording File Open dialog box,
in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
[0018] FIG. 7 illustrates a Recording Properties dialog box in
accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 8 illustrates a meeting recording object in a document
within a PowerPoint.RTM. window, in accordance with some
embodiments of the invention.
[0020] FIG. 9 illustrates further details of a meeting recording
object, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 10 illustrates a meeting recording object in object
editing mode, in accordance with some embodiments of the
invention.
[0022] FIG. 11 illustrates a Audio Object Properties dialog box, in
accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
[0023] FIG. 12 illustrates an audio object as it would appear
within a document, in accordance with some embodiments of the
invention.
[0024] FIG. 13 illustrates an audio object in object editing mode,
in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
[0025] FIG. 14 illustrates a Video Object Properties dialog box, in
accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
[0026] FIG. 15 illustrates a video object as it would appear in a
document, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
[0027] FIG. 16 illustrates a video object in object editing mode,
in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
[0028] FIG. 17 illustrates a Flash Movie Properties dialog box, in
accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
[0029] FIG. 18 illustrates a Flash.TM. movie object as it would
appear in a document, in accordance with some embodiments of the
invention.
[0030] FIG. 19 illustrates a Flash.TM. movie object in object
editing mode, in accordance with some embodiments of the
invention.
[0031] FIG. 20 illustrates a 3D Model Properties dialog box, in
accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
[0032] FIG. 21 illustrates a 3D model object as it would appear in
a document, in accordance with some embodiments of the
invention
[0033] FIG. 22 illustrates a 3D model object in object editing
mode, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
[0034] FIG. 23 is a flow diagram of an operation for converting a
document containing embedded custom objects into a Rich Multi-Media
format, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
[0035] FIG. 24 is a flow diagram of operation for synchronizing
sharing of a document between client computers at a meeting in a
distributed collaborative computer system, in accordance with some
embodiments of the invention.
[0036] FIG. 25 is a flow diagram of operation for rendering data at
an attendee client computer at a meeting in a distributed
collaborative computer system, in accordance with some embodiments
of the invention.
[0037] FIG. 26 illustrates a user interface for a Meeting Center
window, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
[0038] FIG. 27 illustrates a content viewer and thumbnails, in
accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
[0039] FIG. 28 illustrates an Attendee Privileges dialog box, in
accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
[0040] The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings
indicates similar or identical items.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0041] Embodiments of the present invention provide the ability to
embed custom objects into a document and convert the document into
a Rich Multi-Media (RMM) format so that it may be shared during an
on-line meeting (i.e., a collaborative session). Various types of
custom objects, such as multimedia objects, may be embedded in the
document. The document is created with an application program, such
as Microsoft's PowerPoint.RTM.). Embodiments of the invention
provide the Rich Multi-Media format that is used for conversion of
the document into a form that may be shared during a meeting.
Additionally, the document with embedded custom objects may be
viewed by a user independent of an on-line meeting.
[0042] FIG. 1 illustrates a distributed collaborative computing
system 100, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
Computer system 100 includes a presenter client computer 110, a
plurality of attendee client computers 120n (where n=A, B, C . . .
), a conferencing server computer 140, and a streaming server
computer 150 connected to each other through a computer network
130.
[0043] In some embodiments of the invention, presenter client
computer 110 (whose user will be a presenter at a meeting)
establishes a connection to conferencing server computer 140 over
computer network 130. Each attendee client computer 120n (whose
users will join the meeting presented by presenter client computer
110) establishes a connection to conferencing server computer 140
over computer network 130. Additionally, each client computer 110
and 120n establish connections to streaming server computer 150 to
obtain data during the meeting. In some embodiments, a host
schedules a meeting to be presented by a presenter. The host and
presenter may be the same user or may be different users. In some
embodiments, the host, the presenter at presenter client computer
110, and users at attendee client computers 120n are referred to as
attendees as all of them attend the meeting.
[0044] Details of distributed collaborative computing system 100
are further described in the following United States patent
applications and patents, each of which is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety: [0045] "System and Method for Accessing
a Target Computer from a Remote Location Using a Remote Computer,"
co-pending and commonly assigned application Ser. No. 10/001,435,
filed on Oct. 31, 2001; [0046] "Systems and Methods for
Establishing Quasi-Persistent HTTP Connections," co-pending and
commonly assigned application Ser. No. 09/963,216, filed on Sep.
25, 2001; [0047] "Application Based Screen Sampling," co-pending
and commonly assigned application Ser. No. 09/835,079, filed on
Apr. 13, 2001; [0048] "Sharing OpenGL Applications Using
Application Based Screen Sampling," co-pending and commonly
assigned application Ser. No. 09/835,116, filed on Apr. 13, 2001;
[0049] "Sharing Direct draw Applications Using Application Based
Screen Sampling," co-pending and commonly assigned application Ser.
No. 09/835,086, filed on Apr. 13, 2001; [0050] "Distributed Network
System Architecture For Collaborative Computing," co-pending and
commonly-assigned application Ser. No. 09/751,424, filed Dec. 29,
2000; [0051] "Fault-Tolerant Distributed System For Collaborative
Computing," co-pending and commonly-assigned application Ser. No.
09/751,807, filed Dec. 29, 2000; [0052] "Scalable Distributed
System For Collaborative Computing," co-pending and
commonly-assigned application Ser. No. 09/751,548, filed Dec. 29,
2000; [0053] "Distributed Meeting Management," co-pending and
commonly-assigned application Ser. No. 09/751,595, filed Dec. 29,
2000; [0054] "Fault Tolerant Server Architecture For Collaborative
Computing," co-pending and commonly-assigned application Ser. No.
09/752,376, filed Dec. 29, 2000; [0055] "Distributed Application
Sharing," co-pending and commonly-assigned application Ser. No.
09/751,806, filed Dec. 29, 2000; [0056] "Distributed Document
Sharing," co-pending and commonly-assigned application Ser. No.
09/753,193, filed Dec. 29, 2000; [0057] "Secure Communications
System For Collaborative Computing," co-pending and
commonly-assigned application Ser. No. 09/752,284, filed Dec. 29,
2000; [0058] "Fault Tolerant Server For Collaborative Computing,"
co-pending and commonly-assigned application Ser. No. 09/751,519,
filed Dec. 29, 2000; [0059] "Quality Of Service Maintenance For
Distributed Collaborative Computing," co-pending and
commonly-assigned application Ser. No. 09/752,377, filed Dec. 29,
2000; [0060] "Instant Document Sharing," co-pending and
commonly-assigned application Ser. No. 09/442,424, filed Nov. 17,
1999; [0061] "Instant Sharing of Documents in a Viewer Server,"
co-pending and commonly-assigned application for U.S. patent Ser.
No. 09/471,938, filed Dec. 23, 1999; [0062] "Viewer Document
Serving," co-pending and commonly-assigned application Ser. No.
09/591,377, filed Jun. 9, 2000; [0063] "Instantaneous Viewer
Control of an Unattended Server," co-pending and commonly-assigned
application Ser. No. 09/515,684, filed Feb. 29, 2000; [0064]
"Remote Document Serving," co-pending and commonly-assigned
application Ser. No. 09/471,938, filed on Dec. 23, 1999; [0065]
"Instantaneous Remote Control of an Unattended Server," co-pending
and commonly-assigned application Ser. No. 09/515,684; [0066]
"Method for Establishing a Communication Connection Between Two or
More Users Via a Network of Interconnected Computers," co-pending
and commonly-assigned application Ser. No. 09/195,801, filed on May
12, 2000; [0067] "Emulating a Persistent Connection Using HTTP,"
co-pending and commonly-assigned application Ser. No. 09/449,011,
filed on Nov. 24, 1999; [0068] "Method of Transferring Data at
Adjustable Levels of Priorities to Provide Optimum Response to User
Demands," U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,603; [0069] "Method to Provide for
Virtual Screen Overlay," U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,188; [0070]
"Collaborative Web Browser," U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,791; and [0071]
"Method for Creating Peer-to-Peer Connections Over an
Interconnected Network to Facilitate Conferencing Among Users,"
U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,432.
[0072] FIG. 2A illustrates a hardware/software structure of a
presenter client computer 110, in accordance with some embodiments
of the invention. During operation of computer system 100,
insertion software 200, conversion software 202, viewer software
204, authoring software 206, and component applications 208 are
executed on top of operating system 210, which in turn controls
hardware layer 212. Hardware layer 212, in turn, provides a
physical connection to computer network 130.
[0073] Insertion software 200 allows custom objects to be embedded
into a document prepared with authoring software 206. Conversion
software 202 performs conversion of the document to a Rich
Multi-Media format provided by some embodiments of the invention.
Viewer software 204 enables viewing of a document with embedded
custom objects, either while participating in a meeting (i.e.,
while "on-line") or outside of a meeting (i.e., while "off-line").
In some embodiments, insertion software 200 is a plug-in that is
added to authoring software 206 (e.g., Microsoft's PowerPoint.RTM.
or Word.RTM.). In some embodiments, conversion software 202 and
viewer software 204 are plug-ins that are added to a web browser
(e.g., Microsoft's Internet Explorer.RTM.).
[0074] In some embodiments, insertion software 200, conversion
software 202, and viewer software 204 may each be separate computer
programs or may be combined with each other and/or with other
software. For example, in some embodiments, insertion software 200,
conversion software 202, and viewer software 204 are separate
computer programs. In some embodiments, insertion software 200,
conversion software 202, and viewer software 204 are combined to
form a single computer program. In some embodiments, insertion
software 200, conversion software 202, and viewer software 204 may
be combined in alternate ways (e.g., conversion software 202 and
viewer software 204 may be combined into one computer program,
while insertion software 200 is a separate computer program) or may
be combined with other software (e.g., insertion software 200 may
be combined with authoring software 206 to form a simple computer
program).
[0075] FIG. 2B illustrates a hardware/software structure of an
attendee client computer 120n, in accordance with some embodiments
of the invention. During operation of computer system 100,
conversion software 202, viewer software 204, and component
applications 224 are executed on top of operating system 226, that
controls hardware layer 228. Hardware layer 228, in turn, provides
a physical connection to computer network 130. Conversion software
202 and viewer software 204 may be separate computer programs, a
single combined computer program, or each may be combined with each
other and/or other software.
[0076] FIG. 2C illustrates a hardware/software structure of a
conferencing server computer 140 or a streaming server computer
150, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. During
operation of computer system 100, server software 230 (e.g.,
database management software (DBMS)) is executed on top of
operating system 232, that controls hardware layer 234. Hardware
layer 234, in turn, provides a physical connection to computer
network 130. Server software 230 stores and retrieves information
in a database via operating system 232. The database may be any
type of commercially available database, such as IBM's' DB2.RTM.
database or an Oracle.RTM. database.
[0077] Conferencing server computer 140 and streaming server
computer 150 maybe any special or general purpose computer suitable
for maintaining a website and/or streaming data, such as a
Pentium.TM.-based computer, available from a variety of third
parties, an UltraSparc.TM. workstation, available from Sun
Microsystems, Inc. of Mountain View, Calif., an RS6000 workstation,
available from IBM of New York, etc.
[0078] Client computers 110 and 120n may be any special or general
purpose computer suitable for accessing a website over the
Internet, such as any a Pentium.TM.-based computer, available from
a variety of third parties, a Macintosh computer, available from
Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., a handheld device or
appliance, available from a variety of third parties, etc.
[0079] Operating systems 210, 226, and 232 are any suitable
operating system for client computers 110 and 120n and server
computers 140 and 150, such as Windows.RTM. 98, Windows.RTM. NT
4.0, Windows.RTM. 2000, or Windows.RTM. XT, available from
Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash., Mac.RTM. OS X, available from
Apple Computer, Inc., any version of the Unix.RTM. operating
system, including Linux.
[0080] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an operation 300 for creating a
document and sharing the document at a meeting in a distributed
collaborative computer system 100, in accordance with some
embodiments of the invention. In stage 310, insertion software 200
embeds one or more custom objects into a document in response to
user selection of the custom objects. The document is created with
authoring software 206 (e.g., PowerPoint.RTM.) at presenter client
computer 110. Then, in stage 320, the document (e.g., a
PowerPoint.RTM. presentation) is saved. In some embodiments, the
document is saved without being converted to Rich Multi-Media
format, and, in other embodiments, the document is saved after
being converted to Rich Multi-Media format. Next, in stage 330, the
document is opened for a meeting in the distributed collaborative
computer system 100. If the document was not converted to Rich
Multi-Media format prior to being saved, conversion software 202
converts the document to Rich Multi-Media format at this time
(stage 340). Although for purposes of illustration, presenter
client computer 110 and attendee client computers 120n are
described as engaged in a meeting, the document may also be viewed
independent of the meeting.
[0081] In some embodiments, the custom objects in the document are
not viewable by attendee client computers 120n if the document is
not converted into the Rich Multi-Media format first. Then, viewer
software 204 at presenter client computer 110 and attendee client
computers 120n enables viewing of the converted document under
direction of a user (e.g., presenter) at presenter client computer
110. In particular, viewer software 204 is able to correctly render
(e.g., play or display) the custom objects at each attendee client
computer 110 and 120n.
[0082] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of operation 400 for embedding
custom objects into a document, in accordance with some embodiments
of the invention. Initially, (stage 410), insertion software 200 is
installed.
[0083] In particular, for some embodiments, insertion software 200
is designed to be incorporated into authoring software, such as
PowerPoint.RTM. to support the authoring of the document. In some
embodiments, insertion software 200 is a plug-in that is added to
PowerPoint.RTM. to provide additional functionality.
[0084] A user can use insertion software 200 to import different
media files and insert them into a PowerPoint.RTM. presentation as
custom objects. PowerPoint.RTM. supports custom types, and
insertion software 200 takes advantage of this to import one or
more objects, such as a meeting recording object, an audio object,
a video object, a Flash.TM. movie object, or a 3D model object.
When the user saves the presentation, the custom objects are
embedded into the presentation by insertion software 200.
[0085] Then, embodiments of the invention allow a user to open or
share the presentation with other users during an on-line meeting
or to view the presentation independent of a meeting. In some
embodiments, users at client computers 110 and 120n access a web
site hosted by conferencing server 140, register to participate in
a meeting, and download the plug-in for conversion software 202 and
viewer software 204. An installation program at client computer 110
and 120n is used to install the plug-in. At the time of
registration, in some embodiments, any documents to be shared
during the meeting are downloaded to client computers 110 and
120n.
[0086] Then, during an on-line meeting, the invention provides the
ability to synchronize playback of media files across client
computers 110 and 120n. In embodiments in which the embedded custom
objects are already loaded at each client computer 120n, there is
no need to send large amounts of data to attendee client computers
120n during playback.
[0087] In stage 420, authoring software (e.g., PowerPoint.RTM.) is
opened for creating a document with insertion software 200. After
installation, when, for example, the PowerPoint.RTM. application is
opened, the PowerPoint.RTM. window includes an Insertion menu 500
(labeled as "WebEx.RTM." in some embodiments) in accordance with
some embodiments of the invention. The sub-menus of Insertion menu
500 include: TABLE-US-00001 Insert Meeting Recording 502 Insert
Audio Object 504 Insert Video Object 506 Insert Flash Movie 508
Insert 3D Model 510 Plug-in Help 512
[0088] In some embodiments, insertion software 200 provides users
the ability to insert other custom objects and code for rendering
the custom objects through, for example, an application programming
interface (API). Each type of custom object has its own settings
that can control the playback of the custom object. In some
embodiments, the file formats listed in Table 1 are supported by
the Rich Multi-Media format of the invention. TABLE-US-00002 TABLE
1 Format Extensions Support Meeting .wrf Built-in to Viewer
Recording Software Audio Files .aif, .au, .mp2, Requires media
player .mp3, .wav Video Files .asf, .avi, .mov, Requires media
player .mpg, .qt Flash Movie .swf Requires flash player 3D Models
.igs Built-in Viewer Software
[0089] In some embodiments, a meeting recording is a recording of a
meeting and is a type of meeting recording object. For meeting
recordings and 3D models, there is built-in support for playback in
viewer software 204. For audio files and video files, viewer
software 204 relies on the playback functionalities provided by the
corresponding component application (e.g., media player). For
Flash.TM. movies, viewer software 204 relies on the functionalities
of a Flash.TM. player. For all media types, the user interface of
the playback control is provided by viewer software 204, even when
component applications are called to render the objects. Other
media types may be supported in other embodiments.
[0090] The tools available in the menu of FIG. 5 may also be placed
on a toolbar that may be manipulated as any other PowerPoint.RTM.
toolbar. A toolbar is a row of icon buttons that provides quick
access to commonly used functions.
[0091] In stage 430, one or more custom objects are inserted into a
document using insertion software 200. When creating a document, if
the user selects "Insert object" (e.g., Insert Meeting Recording)
from either Insertion menu 500 or a toolbar, an Insert Meeting
Recording File Open dialog box 600 (FIG. 6) appears on the screen.
A meeting recording has a .wrf file extension 610. After the user
selects a valid media file and closes the dialog box, the meeting
recording object is inserted into the presentation.
[0092] If a user has inserted a meeting recording object, a Meeting
Recording Properties dialog box 700 (FIG. 7), in accordance with
some embodiments of the invention, is displayed to allow the user
to change any settings or properties for the newly inserted object.
Dialog box 700 includes information about object 710 and settings
720.
[0093] Object information 710 includes a title box 712. In some
embodiments, a default title is given to each object on its
creation, and the user may use the default title to identify the
object or may choose to modify the default title. If the media
object already has a title or name embedded in it, this title is
used as the default title. Otherwise, the filename without the
extension may be used as the default title (e.g., file name
"sept.wrf" will become default title "sept"). The title field does
not need to be unique among objects A duration field 714 indicates
the exact duration of the playback in the following format: h
hours, mm minutes, ss seconds (where h is number of hours, mm is
number of minutes, and ss is number of seconds). A size field 716
indicates the size of the object inside the presentation expressed
in kilobytes (KB).
[0094] If a "start playback automatically on slide display" option
722 is checked, the playback will start once a user enters the
slide containing the object. If option 722 is not checked, the user
has to manually select play. If a full-screen playback option 724
is checked, the display switches to full-screen mode once the
playback starts (either automatically or manually). If option 724
is not checked, the user has to manually select the full-screen
button. A full-screen typically has some menu bars and/or toolbars
hidden so that a larger portion of a document may be viewed on a
computer screen.
[0095] Selecting an OK button 726 confirms the currently selected
properties. Also, OK button 726 is selected by default, so it can
also be selected by simply pressing the Enter key on a keyboard.
Selecting a Cancel button 728 discards any changes made in
properties dialog box 700 (i.e., restores the default settings) but
does not delete the inserted object from the document.
[0096] When the user has completed editing object properties, the
object appears in the PowerPoint.RTM. presentation. FIG. 8
illustrates a meeting recording object 820 in a document (e.g., a
presentation) 810 within a PowerPoint.RTM. window, in accordance
with some embodiments of the invention.
[0097] Insertion software 200 enables custom objects to be handled
in accordance with the convention of manipulating objects in a
PowerPoint.RTM. presentation. For example, there are 8 square
handles around the custom object. Users can grab the handles to
resize the custom object. Users can move the custom object around
by placing a cursor on top of the custom object and dragging the
object. Users can delete the custom object by hitting the Del key
on a keyboard or by selecting delete from the PowerPoint.RTM. Edit
menu. Also, selecting a custom object (e.g., by double-clicking on
the custom object) switches the PowerPoint.RTM. document into
object editing mode.
[0098] FIG. 9 illustrates further details of a meeting recording
object 820 in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. In
some embodiments, custom object 820 consists of two parts: content
portion 910 displays the content of the recording, and an
information panel 920 provides information about custom object 820
(in this example, a meeting recording object). Content portion 910
displays a frame of the recording in object editing mode.
Information panel 920 consists of the elements listed in Table 2 in
object editing mode. TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 2 Element Description
Meeting Identifies that this is a Meeting Recording object.
Recording Left aligned to 15 pixels from the left edge of the
object icon object. Information Consists of Title, Format, and
Instruction. Left aligned to 15 pixels from the right edge of the
Meeting Recording icon. Title The title of the recording object
specified by the user in the Properties dialog box. Format Format:
Meeting Recording ([DURATION]) Where DURATION is the total duration
of the recording. The format is: hh:mm:ss where hh is number of
hours, mm is number of minutes, ss is number of seconds.
Instruction Double-click to edit the object.
[0099] When the custom object is selected (e.g., by double-clicking
on the custom object), the information panel changes to a control
panel 1000, allowing a user to playback the meeting recording
object. FIG. 10 illustrates a meeting recording object 820 in
object editing mode, in accordance with some embodiments of the
invention. For example, the object outline changes to indicate that
custom object 820 is in object editing mode. Users can drag the
outline to move custom object 820, and users can resize custom
object 820 by dragging the handles around custom object 820.
[0100] Table 3 describes control panel 1000 of the meeting
recording object in edit mode with reference to FIG. 10.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 3 Properties 1002 Opens the corresponding
object properties dialog box Full-screen playback Switches to
full-screen mode. 1004 Play 1006 Plays the recording. If the user
has selected Full-screen playback in the Properties dialog box,
switches to full-screen mode and plays the media. Otherwise, plays
the media in the current object space. While the media is playing,
the play button is disabled. Pause 1008 Remains in an active state
as long as playback is paused-that is, until a user either clicks
the button again or clicks the Play or Stop button. Stop 1010 Stops
the playback and resets the current playing position. This button
is enabled only when the recording is being played or paused.
Clicking this button enables the Play button and disables the Pause
button. Mute 1012 When the user clicks this button, audio is muted
and the button changes to a down state until the user clicks it
again, which resumes the audio. Disable this button if the object
does not contain an audio component, or no audio devise is
installed in the system to play the media. Volume slider 1014
Indicates the sound volume. This control may be disabled if there
is no suitable audio device installed in the system to play back
audio or the media contains no audio component. Elapsed time and
Shows the elapsed time during playback or Duration Indicator
editing, and the total duration of a recording - for 1016 example,
00:12:40/0043:43:21. Location slider 1018 Controls the location of
the playback.
[0101] When the user selects "Slide Show" in PowerPoint.RTM., the
presentation is displayed. The appearance of the object is still
the same as in FIG. 10. If the user clicks the Properties button on
the control panel, Properties dialog box (FIG. 7) is displayed in
read-only mode.
[0102] When the user clicks the Full-screen button on the control
panel of the object, the object occupies the entire screen. As a
result, the control panel is not shown in this mode, to allow
maximum space for viewing the content. Users can still enter
control commands, however, via the keyboard. The following are the
keyboard commands available in full-screen mode: [0103] Ctrl-P:
Play/Pause (toggle) [0104] Enter: Play/Pause (toggle) [0105]
Ctrl-S: Stop [0106] Esc: Quit full-screen mode
[0107] The meeting recording object can appear with viewer software
204 if the user opens or shares a presentation that contains a
custom object. For the host, the custom object behaves the same way
as in slide-show mode. For attendees, all controls are disabled
except Properties, the volume slider, and mute. In the Properties
dialog box, all options appear dimmed (e.g., grayed or shaded) and
may not be modified by the attendees.
[0108] When the user selects "Insert Audio Object . . . " from
either Insertion menu 500 or a toolbar, a standard File Open dialog
box, similar to that illustrated FIG. 6, appears on the screen. An
audio file may have a format of, for example, the following
extensions: .au, .aif, .mp2, .mp3, .wav.
[0109] After the user selects a valid media file and closes the
File Open dialog box, the object is inserted into the presentation.
At this time, an Audio Object Properties dialog box 1100 appears to
allow the user to change any settings or properties for the newly
inserted object. FIG. 11 illustrates an Audio Object Properties
dialog box 1100 in accordance with some embodiments of the
invention. Audio Object Properties dialog box 1100 includes audio
object information 1110 and settings 1120. In addition to a title
box 1112, the dialog box includes a format field 1114, which
indicates the audio format of the object. Format field 1114
includes: [0110] Type of audio format (e.g., AU, WAV, AIF, MP2 or
MP3) [0111] Mono or Stereo [0112] Sampling rate (e.g., 44100 HZ)
[0113] Bit-rate (for MP3 or other applicable format) (e.g., 127
kBit/s)
[0114] After the user selects a valid file and closes dialog box
1100, insertion software 200 checks the user's system for the
appropriate resources (e.g., component applications) used for
playback of the audio object. In some embodiments, a media player
is used for the playback of audio files. If a media player is not
found insertion software 200 displays a message box on the screen,
warning the user that although the media object is inserted into
the presentation, the user is not able to play it back at that
point.
[0115] When the user has completed editing object properties, the
object appears in the PowerPoint.RTM. presentation. Manipulating
audio objects is similar to manipulating meeting recording objects,
except that Audio objects are not resizable (i.e., users cannot
resize the object by grabbing its handles).
[0116] FIG. 12 illustrates an audio object 1200 as it would appear
within a document, in accordance with some embodiments of the
invention. In some embodiments, the entire object has a 3D outline.
Audio object 1200 displays an information panel that consists of
the elements listed in Table 4: TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 4 Element
Description Audio Identifies that this is an Audio object. Left
object icon aligned to 15 pixels from the left edge of the object.
Information Consists of Title, Format, and Instruction. Left
aligned to 15 pixels from the right edge of the Audio object icon.
Title The title of the audio object specified by the user in the
Properties dialog box. Format Format: [TYPE] ([DURATION]) Where
TYPE is one of the following: AIFF audio AU audio MP2 audio MP3
audio WAV audio and DURATION is the total duration of the audio
clip. The format is: hh:mm:ss where hh is number of hours, mm is
number of minutes, ss is number of seconds. Instruction
DoubIe-click to edit the object.
[0117] If the user selects (e.g., by double-clicking) the audio
object, PowerPoint.TM. switches to object editing mode, and FIG. 13
illustrates an audio object 1300 in object editing mode, in
accordance with some embodiments of the invention. The appearance
of audio object 1300 changes so that the definition of the user
interface elements are the same as in the meeting recording object
section, except that the audio object has no full-screen
button.
[0118] In slide-show mode, if a user clicks the Properties button
on the control panel, the Properties dialog box is illustrated, but
the user may not edit properties.
[0119] An audio object may be viewed with viewer software 204 if
the user opens or shares a presentation that contains that object.
In some embodiments, for the host, the object behaves the same way
as in slide-show mode, while for attendees, all controls are
disabled except Properties, the volume slider, and mute. In the
Properties dialog box, all options appear dimmed and may not be
modified by the attendees.
[0120] When the user selects "Insert Video Object . . . " from
either Insertion menu 500 or a toolbar, a standard File Open dialog
box, similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6, appears on the screen.
A video object may have one of the following extensions: .asf,
.avi, .mov, .mpg, .gt.
[0121] After the user selects a valid file and closes the File Open
dialog box, insertion software 200 checks the user's system for the
appropriate resources (e.g., a component application) used for
playback of the media. A media player is used for the playback of
video files. If a media player is not found, insertion software 200
displays a message box on the screen, warning the user that
although the media object is inserted into the presentation, the
user is not able to play it back at that point.
[0122] After the user has selected a valid media file and closed
the dialog box, the object is inserted into the presentation. At
this point, a Video Object Properties dialog box 1400 (FIG. 14)
appears to allow the user to change any settings or properties for
the newly inserted object.
[0123] The Video Object Properties dialog box 1400 includes object
information 1410 and settings 1420. The object information 1410
includes a title box 1412, a format field 1414 (which indicates the
audio format of the object), a duration field 1416, and a size
field 1418. In some embodiments, the names listed in Table 5 are
used for each of the video object types: TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 5
Extensions Name .asf ASF video .avi AVI video .mov QuickTime video
.mpg MPEG video .qt QuickTime video
[0124] When the user has completed editing object properties, the
object appears in the PowerPoint.RTM. presentation. Manipulation of
a video object is similar to the manipulation of a meeting
recording object, except that video objects stretch their content,
rather than clipping the content.
[0125] FIG. 15 illustrates a video object 1500 as it would appear
in a document, in accordance with some embodiments of the
invention. In some embodiments, the object consists of two parts:
upper part 1510 displays the content of the video, and lower
information panel 1520 provides information about the video. Upper
part 1510 displays a frame of the video in object editing mode. In
some embodiments, the entire object and information panel 1520 may
have a 3D outline. Information panel 1520 consists of the elements
listed in Table 6: TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 6 Element Description Video
Identifies that this is a Video object. Left aligned object icon to
15 pixels from the left edge of the object. Information Consists of
Title, Format, and Instruction. Left aligned to 15 pixels from the
right edge of the Video object icon. Title The title of the video
object specified by the user in the Properties dialog box. Format
Format: [TYPE] ([DURATION]) Where TYPE is one of the following: ASF
video AVI video QuickTime video MPEG Video and DURATION is the
total duration of the video clip. The format is: hh:mm:ss where hh
is number of hours, mm is number of minutes, ss is number of
seconds. Instruction Double-click to edit the object.
[0126] In some embodiments, the resize operation is constrained so
that only proportional resize is allowed, and the initial size of
the object is the same as the size defined in the video file.
However, if the size of the object is larger than the size that the
presentation allows, the size of the object is set to the maximum
size allowed by the presentation.
[0127] FIG. 16 illustrates a video object 1500 in object editing
mode, in which a control panel 1600 is displayed in accordance with
some embodiments of the invention. If the user selects the video
object (e.g., by double-clicking on the object), the
PowerPoint.RTM. application switches to object editing mode. The
definitions of the user interface elements are the same as in the
meeting recording object section.
[0128] In slide-show mode, if a user clicks the Properties button
on the control panel, the Properties dialog box is illustrated, but
the user may not edit properties.
[0129] When the user clicks the Full-screen button on the control
panel of the object, the object is displayed in full-screen mode.
The control panel is not shown in this mode. In this mode, users
can have maximum space for viewing the content. The following are
the keyboard commands available in full-screen mode: [0130] Ctrl-P:
Play/Pause (toggle) [0131] Enter: Play/Pause (toggle) [0132]
Ctrl-S: Stop [0133] Esc: Quit full-screen mode
[0134] In some embodiments, if the user does not have a media
player installed, or for any reason the system has no video
capability to play the video file, then the object is not
played.
[0135] A video object may be viewed with viewer software 204 if the
user opens or shares a presentation that contains that object. For
the host, the video object behaves the same way as in slide-show
mode. For attendees, all controls are disabled except Properties,
the volume slider, and mute, and in the Properties dialog box, all
options appear dimmed and may not be modified by the attendees.
[0136] When the user selects "Insert Flash Movie . . . " from
either Insertion menu 500 or a toolbar, a standard File Open dialog
box, similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6, appears on the screen.
In some embodiments, a Flash.TM. movie may have a .swf extension. A
Flash.TM. player is used for the playback of Flash.TM. movies. If a
Flash.TM. player is not found, then insertion software 200 (FIG.
2A) displays a message box on the screen, warning the user that
although the media object is inserted into the presentation, the
user is not able to play it back at that point.
[0137] After the user has selects a valid media file and closes the
File Open dialog box, the Flash.TM. movie object is inserted into
the presentation. At this point, a Flash Movie Properties dialog
box 1700 appears to allow the user to change any settings or
properties for the newly inserted object (FIG. 17) in accordance
with some embodiments of the invention. In particular, a user may
edit a title box 1702 or view a size field 1704.
[0138] When the user has completed editing object properties, the
Flash.TM. movie object appears in the PowerPoint.RTM. presentation.
Manipulation of a Flash.TM. movie object is analogous to
manipulation of a meeting recording object, except that the
Flash.TM. movie object stretches its content, rather than clipping
the content. FIG. 18 illustrates a Flash.TM. movie object 1800 as
it would appear in a document, in accordance with some embodiments
of the invention.
[0139] The object consists of two parts: an upper part 1810
displays the content of the movie, and a lower information panel
1820 provides information about the movie. The upper part 1810
displays a frame of the movie in object editing mode. The entire
object has a 3D outline, and lower information panel 1820 has a 3D
outline. Lower information panel 1820 consists of the elements
listed in Table 7: TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 7 Element Description Flash
Identifies that this is a Flash movie. Left aligned movie icon to
15 pixels from the left edge of the object. Information Consists of
Title, Format, and Instruction. Left aligned to 15 pixels from the
right edge of the Flash movie icon. Title The title of the flash
movie specified by the user in the Properties dialog box. Format
Format: Flash Movie Instruction Double-click to edit the
object.
[0140] As a Flash.TM. movie object has its own set of controls, it
may not have the lower control panel that appears in other types of
custom objects. In some embodiments, Flash.TM. movie objects are
started automatically. FIG. 19 illustrates a Flash.TM. movie object
in object editing mode in accordance with some embodiments of the
invention. To control the playback of a Flash.TM. movie object, a
user right clicks on the movie, and standard Flash.TM. context menu
1900 appears, in accordance with some embodiments of the
invention.
[0141] A Flash.TM. movie object in slide show mode is the same as
in object editing mode, except that if the user does not have a
Flash.TM. player installed to play the movie, then the Flash.TM.
movie object does not appear in slide show mode.
[0142] A Flash.TM. movie object may be rendered with viewer
software 204 if the user opens or shares a presentation that
contains that object. For a host, the object behaves the same way
as in slide-show mode. For attendees, right clicking the Flash.TM.
movie object does not reveal a context menu. If a Flash.TM. player
is not installed on the user's computer to play the movie, then the
object does not appear when the document containing the Flash.TM.
movie object is viewed with viewer software 204.
[0143] When the user selects "Insert 3D Model" from either
Insertion menu 500 or a toolbar, a standard File Open dialog box,
similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6, appears on the screen. In
some embodiments, a 3D model object may have an .igs extension.
[0144] After the user selects a valid media file and closes the
File Open dialog box, the object is inserted into the presentation.
At this point, a 3D Model Properties dialog box 2000 (FIG. 20)
appears to allow the user to change any settings or properties for
the newly inserted object. Dialog box 2000 includes a title box
2002, a format field 2004, and a size field 2006. Format field 2004
displays "IGES," which is a supported file format.
[0145] When the user has completed editing object properties, the
object appears in the PowerPoint.RTM. presentation. Manipulation of
a 3D model object is similar to manipulation of a meeting recording
object, except that a 3D model object stretches its content, rather
than clipping the content. FIG. 21 illustrates a 3D model object
2100 as it would appear in a document, in accordance with some
embodiments of the invention. The object consists of two parts: an
upper part 2110 displays the content of the 3D model object, and a
lower information panel 2120 provides information about the video.
Upper part 2110 always displays the initial view of the model. The
entire object has a 3D outline, and lower information 2120 panel
has a 3D outline. Information panel 2120 consists of the elements
listed in Table 8: TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 8 Element Description 3D
Model Identifies that this is a 3D model. Left aligned to icon 15
pixels from the left edge of the object. Information Consists of
Title, Format, and Instruction. Left aligned to 15 pixels from the
right edge of the Flash movie icon. Title The title of the 3D model
specified by the user in the Properties dialog box. Format Format:
IGES 3D Model Instruction Double-click to edit the object.
[0146] If the user selects (e.g., by double-clicking) the 3D model
object, PowerPoint.RTM. switches to object editing mode. The
appearance of the object in PowerPoint.RTM. changes in object
editing mode, as is illustrated in FIG. 22, in accordance with some
embodiments of the invention. The Properties and Full-screen
buttons are displayed in control panel 2200. Floating 3D Model
Viewer toolbar 2210 contains the tools used for manipulating the
model itself.
[0147] In slide-show mode, if the user clicks the Properties button
on the control panel, the Properties dialog box is displayed, but
properties may not be edited.
[0148] When the user clicks the Full-screen button on the control
panel of the object, the object is displayed in full-screen mode.
The control panel is not present in this mode. In this mode, users
can have maximum space for viewing the content. The following are
the keyboard commands available in full-screen mode: [0149] Ctrl-P:
Play/Pause (toggle) [0150] Enter: Play/Pause (toggle) [0151]
Ctrl-S: Stop [0152] Esc: Quit full-screen mode
[0153] A 3D model object may be viewed with viewer software 204 if
the user opens or shares a presentation that contains that object.
For a host, the object behaves the same way as in slide-show mode.
For attendees, all controls are disabled, except the Properties
button. In the Properties dialog box, all options appear dimmed and
may not be modified by the attendees.
[0154] Viewer software 204 has native support for some of the
embedded objects such as WRF and IGS (3D) files. When such objects
are shown, viewer software 204 renders the files and provides the
appropriate controls to manipulate the objects. In other cases,
such as audio and video files, viewer software 204 invokes the
appropriate component application such as a media player on the
attendee's computer to play the embedded object on the attendee's
screen.
[0155] After authoring the presentation, a user can click the Slide
Show button, or select Slide Show from the View menu in
PowerPoint.RTM. to view the final presentation. The presentation
will be displayed full screen in slide show mode.
[0156] After a document with embedded custom objects is created,
the document is converted to a Rich Multi-Media format before it is
shared during an online meeting or viewed by a user independent of
the meeting. The Rich Multi-Media format is a document format in
accordance to some embodiments of the present invention that allows
a document with embedded custom (e.g., media) objects to be viewed
by a user other than the author of the document. In some
embodiments, the Rich Multi-Media is applied to a Microsoft.RTM.
PowerPoint.RTM. document. In other embodiments, the Rich
Multi-Media format may be applied to other documents, such as
Microsoft.RTM. & Word documents or Corel.RTM. WordPerfect.RTM.
documents.
[0157] FIG. 23 is a flow diagram 2300 of an operation for
converting a document containing embedded custom objects into a
Rich Multi-Media format, in accordance with some embodiments of the
invention. The pdpptrd.cpp file submitted in Appendix A provides
exemplary source code for converting a document to Rich Multi-Media
format. The wpdfdoc.h file submitted in Appendix A defines the Rich
Multi-Media format, and the wpdfobj.h file submitted in Appendix A
includes class structures for objects used by the pdpptrd.cpp and
wpdf.doc.h files.
[0158] A document that is converted to the Rich Multi-Media format
may be sent to another user's computer (e.g., via e-mail or
downloading) for viewing by that user.
[0159] After a document is opened by a presenter at presenter
client computer 110 (stage 2310) conversion software 202 scans a
portion of a document (e.g., a slide in a PowerPoint.RTM.
presentation) for one or more custom objects. In stage 2320,
conversion software 202 obtains information for each custom object.
The information may include, for example, an object identifier
and/or name for each custom object, the size of the custom object,
the position of the custom object on the portion of the document,
and the class type of the custom object. In some embodiments, each
type of custom object has the same class structure (e.g., video
objects have one class structure, while meeting recording objects
have a different class structure).
[0160] In stage 2330, conversion software 202 inserts the
information for each custom object followed by the custom object
into a Rich Multi-Media format document. The custom objects may be
embedded in the document or linked (e.g., via uniform resource
locators (URLs) that point to the custom objects).
[0161] In stage 2340, conversion software 202 scans the same
portion of the document (e.g., the same slide in a PowerPoint.RTM.
presentation) for non-custom objects (e.g., text). In stage 2350,
conversion software 202 obtains information for each non-custom
object. The information may include, for example, the size of the
non-custom object and the position of the non-custom object on the
portion of the document. In stage 2360, conversion software 202
inserts the information for each non-custom object followed by the
non-custom object into a Rich Multi-Media format document.
[0162] In some embodiments, when a document containing two custom
objects and one non-custom objects is converted, the resulting Rich
Multi-Media format document may have the following format: [0163]
<information about custom object><custom object> [0164]
<information about custom object><custom object> [0165]
<information about non-custom object><non-custom
object>
[0166] When viewer software 204 renders the Rich Multi-Media format
document, viewer software 204 uses the positional information about
each object to place the object on a portion of a document. Viewer
software 204 also renders the custom object itself or submits the
custom object to a component application 208 for rendering. In some
embodiments, the custom objects and non-custom objects are inserted
into the Rich Multi-Media format document without modification.
[0167] The media playback in a Rich Multi-Media format document is
an improvement over playing the media file on one computer and
application-sharing it with attendees at other computers. With
application-sharing, although one user may control playback of a
media file with a media player application, attendees may see
choppy video and may not hear the audio.
[0168] A Rich Multi-Media format document is also an improvement
over streaming a media file from a server directly to an attendee
by pushing a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). First, the media file
may not be available on a server. Second, there is no control on
the playback of the media file. Third, each attendee may have a
different experience based on their network connection. Thus, the
playback is not synchronized.
[0169] Viewer software 204 is able to render the document with
embedded custom objects that is converted to Rich Multi-Media
format during a meeting. Viewer software 204 synchronizes playback
of the document with embedded custom objects across all client
computers 110 and 120n.
[0170] FIG. 24 is a flow diagram of an operation 2400 for
synchronizing sharing of a document between client computers 110
and 120n at a meeting in a distributed collaborative computer
system 100, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
In stage 2410, viewer software 204 at a presenter client computer
110 sends a command to conferencing server 140. The command
identifies the data to be rendered at each attendee client computer
120n. For example, the command might indicate that a video, which
is currently playing at each client computer 110 and 120n, is to be
paused. In stage 2420, conferencing server 140 forwards the command
to the attendee client computers 120n. In stage 2440, viewer
software 204 at each attendee client computer 120n receives and
executes the command to render data that is in synch with presenter
client computer's 110 data. Thus, the presenter and the attendees
receive (e.g., view or hear) the same data at the same time.
[0171] Before an attendee client computer 120n participates in a
meeting, the attendee registers for the meeting by, for example,
accessing a web site hosted by conferencing server 140 and
submitting information on the meeting the attendee wishes to
attend. FIG. 25 is a flow diagram of an operation 2500 for
rendering data at an attendee client computer 120n at a meeting in
a distributed collaborative computer system 100, in accordance with
some embodiments of the invention. In stage 2510, attendee client
computer 120n is registered for a particular meeting that is to
occur at a particular date and time (e.g., a Business Development
meeting to take place on Feb. 22, 2002 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00
p.m.). Then, when presenter client computer 110 starts the meeting,
commands from presenter client computer 110 are routed to attendee
A client computer 120n via conferencing server 140. After an
attendee is registered, a document with embedded custom objects to
be shared during the meeting is downloaded to the attendee A client
computer 120n (stage 2520). In some embodiments, multiple documents
may be downloaded.
[0172] In stage 2530, during the meeting, viewer software 204 opens
the downloaded document. Viewer software 204 invokes conversion
software 202 in stage 2540. Next, conversion software 202 converts
the document to a Rich Multi-Media format in stage 2550. During the
meeting, as presenter client computer 110 selects a portion (e.g.,
a page) of the document for rendering, viewer software 204 at
attendee client computer 120n renders each custom and non-custom
object, and, in some cases, viewer software 204 invokes a component
application to render an object (stage 2560).
[0173] In some embodiments, rather than downloading one or more
documents when an attendee registers, the documents may be
downloaded when the meeting is about to being or at a time
scheduled by the attendee. In some embodiments, the downloaded
documents include embedded objects, and, in other embodiments, the
downloaded documents include links (e.g., uniform resource locators
(URLs)) to objects. If a URL is downloaded, viewer software 204 at
an attendee client computer 120n retrieves the file associated with
the URL from, for example, streaming server 150.
[0174] When the object is downloaded to the attendee as a page of
the document before it is to be played, then, when that page of the
document is to be played, the media player on the attendee's
computer is invoked by viewer software 204 to play the embedded
object in the document. This leads to a smooth playback without any
network latency, and the attendees hear the audio portion and/or
view images in synch with each other and the presenter.
[0175] In some embodiments, the component application (e.g., media
player) appears to be embedded in viewer software 204 (e.g., using
ActiveX controls or application programming interfaces (APIs)).
Presenter client computer 110 has player controls, such as pause,
fast-forward, and rewind (e.g., the controls in control panel 1000
in FIG. 10). The component application available on the attendee's
computer will appear on the attendee's screen and may be different
than the one used by the presenter. Although the media is being
played on each attendee's computer, the presenter controls the
playback. For example, when the presenter pauses or rewinds a
video, each attendee's component application will perform the same
operation, even if attendee client computer 120n is using a
different component application to play the video. In other words,
all the attendees will have a near synchronized experience
irrespective of their network connection.
[0176] Viewer software 204 allows users to view multiple documents
or other types of information. Viewer software 204 renders all
static documents, PowerPoint.RTM. transitions, 3D files (e.g., in
IGS format), and Meeting Recording files (i.e., WRF files). Viewer
software 204 contains controls to manipulate 3D objects when an IGS
file is being viewed. Viewer software 204 contains WRF player
controls when a WRF file is encountered.
[0177] In some embodiments, the following media players are
supported by viewer software 204: [0178] Windows.RTM. media player
[0179] Real.RTM. media player [0180] QuickTime.RTM. media player
[0181] Shockwave.TM. player/Flash.TM. player
[0182] Insertion software 200 allows a presenter to prepare shared
content (e.g. a document, presentation, or other type of content)
for viewing in advance of a meeting. Viewer software 204 allows a
host or a presenter to start a meeting. Viewer software 204
provides features that let users easily navigate the pages of a
document and provides a thumbnail view of shared content items.
Viewer software 204 allows users to easily control the layout of
Meeting Center window 2600, which is a user interface provided by
the invention during an on-line meeting and which is illustrated in
FIG. 26. Viewer software 204 improves the usability and usefulness
of the toolbar and palettes, thumbnail view, full-screen view, and
attendee privileges. Viewer software 204 allows a presenter to open
or share multiple documents, either before or during a meeting. In
some embodiments, a palette is a small window that floats on top of
a Meeting Center window 2600 and the Attendees & Chat panel,
and contains assorted drawing tools or annotation colors.
[0183] In some embodiments, a user interface is provided in which
different information are illustrated as if they were on separate
tabs. FIG. 26 illustrates a user interface for a Meeting Center
window 2600, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
For example, an Info tab 2602 displays information about a meeting.
An Agenda tab 2604 appears if a host provides an agenda when
scheduling a meeting, and the Agenda tab contains the agenda for
the meeting. One or more Shared Content tabs 2606, 2608, 2610, and
2612 (sometimes referred to as Viewer tabs) appear for each
document, presentation, or other type of content that a presenter
shares. A Whiteboard tab 2614 appears if a presenter shares a
whiteboard. A Fax tab appears if a host or presenter receives or
opens a fax. One or more of these tabs may be optional (e.g., the
agenda, whiteboard, and fax tabs).
[0184] A Next Tab button may be provided that appears to the right
of the Shared Content tabs (e.g., if there are more tabs than can
appear in the window at one time), and selecting this button causes
the next tab to scroll into view. A Previous Tab button contains a
left-pointing arrow and appears to the left of the Shared Content
tabs (e.g., if there are more tabs than can appear on the screen at
one time). If a user has previously clicked the Next Tab button,
clicking the Previous Tab button causes the previous tab to scroll
into view. In full-screen view, Meeting Center window 2600 and task
bar disappear, and the shared content is visible.
[0185] In some embodiments, a host schedules a meeting to be
presented by a presenter. When scheduling a meeting, the host can
designate the primary presenter for the meeting. The host may also
start and end a meeting, control attendee privileges and access to
a meeting and teleconference, and designate a primary and/or
current presenter (i.e., there may be multiple hosts and/or
presenters during a single meeting).
[0186] A presenter provides information to other meeting attendees;
can share documents, presentations, applications, Web browsers, the
computer's desktop, or information on a whiteboard with other
attendees; and can take a poll. Initially, the meeting host is also
the presenter. The host can designate any user attending the
meeting (e.g., the host, the presenter at presenter client computer
110, or a user at an attendee client computer 120n) as the current
presenter. A presenter may or may not be an authorized user, and a
primary presenter may or may not be an authorized user. An
authorized user is one who has an account on conferencing server
140 and uses his or her user name and password to log in to a
Meeting Center on conferencing server 140.
[0187] In advance of the meeting, the primary presenter may prepare
content for viewing in Meeting Center window 2600 by creating a new
document or by editing an existing one. The presenter may share the
document by opening existing content that has already been
converted to Rich Multi-Media format or by sharing new content. The
content appears on the Shared Content tabs in the content viewer.
When a presenter shares a document, presentation, or whiteboard, it
appears in content viewer 2620 (e.g., a content area on the left
side of Meeting Center window 2600).
[0188] The primary presenter for a meeting can click a Prepare
button to view and work in Meeting Center window 2600 without
starting the meeting. Thus, in advance of a meeting, a presenter
can open or share all of the documents or other content to be
presented during the meeting.
[0189] An attendee is a user who views the information that a
presenter shares, including documents, presentations, applications,
Web browsers, the presenter's desktop, and information on a
whiteboard. An attendee can annotate shared information, and
participate in a chat or poll. An attendee may or may not be an
authorized user.
[0190] The panels are groups of controls that reside in the area of
Meeting Center window 2600. A Panel drop-down list box 2630 is used
to select a panel. Selecting a panel in Panel drop-down list box
2630 displays the panel in the area on the right of Meeting Center
window 2600. The panels include, for example: an Attendees &
Chat panel 2640 (which is selected in FIG. 26), a Polling panel,
and a Video panel. Meeting Center window 2600 provides a floating
Attendees and Chat panel 2640. In some embodiments, Attendees and
Chat panel 2640 and the Video panel are separate panels. For
example, the Video panel may be part of Meeting Center window 2600
itself, while Attendees and Chat panel 2640 may not be integrated
into Meeting Center window 2600.
[0191] In some embodiments, Meeting Center window 2600 is in
conformance with Microsoft.RTM. user interface standards. For
example, the window is in the standard gray, the toolbar appears at
the standard location, below the menu bar, the behaviors of the
toolbar buttons and palettes are consistent and conform to
standards, and the appearance of the tabs is consistent with
standards. Additionally, to achieve greater visual consistency,
wherever possible, the layout of user interface elements conforms
to a grid.
[0192] In Meeting Center window 2600, shown in FIG. 26, a control
bar with a handle separates the panels and the content viewer.
Dragging the panel size control lets a user resize these areas of
the window, and control the relative proportions of the panels and
the content viewer. Also, the window may be resized using, for
example, a standard size grip that is displayed when a user places
a mouse at a corner of Meeting Center window 2600.
[0193] Viewer software 204 includes several commands, including a
Close command, a Save All Content command, a Start Meeting command,
Reorder Viewer Tabs command, a Thumbnails command, a Panels
command, and a Synchronize My Display command. These commands may
appear as menu items in Meeting Center window's 2600 menu bar.
[0194] In some embodiments, the Close command is available for
hosts and presenters only. Choosing this command closes the
document on the tab that is currently visible in the content
viewer. The Save All Content command allows the host or primary
presenter for a meeting to prepare the information that is to be
presented in advance of the meeting and save the content on
conferencing server 140. In some embodiments, this command is
available for hosts and the primary presenter for a meeting.
Choosing this command saves all of the content that a presenter has
opened or shared when preparing for a meeting. When the meeting
starts, all of the saved content automatically appears in the
content viewer.
[0195] The Start Meeting command toggles with the End Meeting
command. This command is available for hosts in some embodiments of
the invention. The Start Meeting command allows a host to start a
meeting, for example: (1) If the primary presenter is currently
preparing content for viewing in the meeting; or (2) If one or more
attendees join a meeting before the presenter has started the
meeting. In some embodiments, the meeting starts automatically when
the first attendee joins the meeting.
[0196] In either circumstance, when Meeting Center window 2600 for
a meeting is already open, the host needs a mechanism for easily
assuming control of the meeting, without disrupting the activities
of the primary presenter or those attendees who are already in the
meeting. The host can assume control of the meeting by choosing the
Start Meeting command.
[0197] The "Reorder Viewer Tabs . . . " command is available for
hosts and presenters in some embodiments. Choosing this command
displays the Reorder Viewer Tabs dialog box, in which a host or
presenter may modify the order in which documents or other content
appear on the Shared Content tabs.
[0198] The Thumbnails command is a toggle command that is available
to the host and presenter in some embodiments, and the attendee
privilege settings determine whether this command is available to
attendees. Choosing this command displays the thumbnail viewer to
the left of the content viewer, which allows a user to navigate the
slides of a presentation or the pages of a document. A thumbnail
viewer is an area that a user can display on the left side of
Meeting Center window 2600 and that contains miniature images
("thumbnails") of each page in a shared document. FIG. 27
illustrates a content viewer 2710 and thumbnails 2720, in
accordance with some embodiments of the invention.
[0199] The Panels toggle command is available to all users. By
default the Panels command is selected, and the panels appear in
Meeting Center window 2600. Choosing the Panels command closes the
panels, and choosing this command again displays the panels to the
right of content viewer 2620.
[0200] The Synchronize My Display command is available to hosts and
presenters, and the attendee privilege settings determine whether
this command is available to attendees in some embodiments. If a
user (e.g., host or attendee) is viewing a slide or page in the
content viewer 2620 other than that which the presenter is
currently displaying, choosing this command synchronizes the user's
display with that of the presenter.
[0201] In some embodiments, any user (e.g., host, presenter, or
attendee) can annotate, save, open, or print an entire document.
Other users may include, for example, system administrators.
[0202] Table 9 provides detailed information about the buttons and
other controls on the toolbar. In Table 9, toggle buttons are noted
as such, and all other buttons are action buttons. TABLE-US-00010
TABLE 9 Button ToolTip Function Open Opens a presentation or
document. Save Saves a presentation or document. Share Presentation
or Allows a host or presenter to share a Document presentation or
document with other attendees. Previous Slide Displays the previous
slide of a presentation or page of a document in the content
viewer. Go To dropdown Allows a user to select a slide or page for
combo box viewing in the content viewer. Next Slide Displays the
next slide of a presentation or page of a document in the content
viewer. Full-Screen This toggle button has the same function as the
View/Content Full Screen command. Viewer Zoom In/Zoom Out Allows a
user to click this toggle button to enter and exit zoom mode. In
zoom mode, when the button is in its down state, the pointer
changes to a magnifying glass, and a user can repeatedly click the
content viewer to zoom in or out by the percentages listed in the
Zoom In/Zoom Out drop-down menu. Zoom In/Zoom Out Allows a user to
choose a command on this drop-down menu menu to control the
magnification of the document in the content viewer. View
Thumbnails This toggle button has the same function as the
Thumbnails command. View Panels This toggle button has the same
function and the Panels command. For hosts and For a host or
presenter, this button allows the presenters: host or presenter to
synchronize all displays of Synchronize Displays all attendees. For
attendees, this function For Attendees: synchronizes the attendee
with the presenter's Synchronize display. My Display Laser Pointer
A presenter can click this toggle button to enter and exit a laser
pointer mode that lets the presenter dynamically point to elements
on a page or slide in the content viewer or full-screen view. In
this laser pointer mode, when the button is in its down state, the
pointer changes to a laser beam, with which the presenter can point
to elements on a page. If the presenter points to an element on a
page that is not currently visible in a participant's content
viewer of full-screen view, the page automatically pans to bring
the content in that sector fully into view. For example: If the
presenter points to an element in a corner sector of a page that is
currently off- screen, the page pans to bring the entire corner
into view. If the presenter points to an element in the top or
bottom middle sector of a page, the page pans to bring the entire
sector into view. Pointer Tool A user can click this toggle button
to enter and exit an annotation mode that lets the user insert a
point annotation-that is, an arrow with the user's name on it-on a
document in the content viewer. In this pointer annotation mode,
when the button is in its down state, the pointer changes to an
arrow, and a user can click the content viewer to insert one or
more pointer annotations. Text Tool A user can click this toggle
button to enter and exit an annotation mode that lets the user type
text annotations on a document in the content viewer. In this text
annotation mode, when the button is in its down state, the pointer
changes to an I-beam, and a user can click the content viewer to
select an insertion point, and type one or more annotations.
Highlighter Tool or The drawing tool is a toggle button that
depends other drawing tool on the drawing tool that is currently
selected on the Drawing Tools palette. The Highlighter Tool is the
default button. A user can click this toggle button to enter and
exit an annotation mode that lets the user draw annotations, using
various tools, on a document in the content viewer. In this drawing
annotation mode, when the button is in its down state, the pointer
changes according to the tool that is currently selected, and a
user can draw one or more annotations. Drawing Tools palette A user
can select a drawing tool on this palette. Eraser Tool A user can
click this toggle button to enter and exit eraser mode. In eraser
mode, when the button is in its down state, the pointer changes to
an eraser, and a user can click an annotation in the content viewer
to erase it. Eraser Tool drop-down A user can choose a command on
this menu to menu erase one or more pointers, or all pointers or
annotations. Annotation Color A user can click this toggle button
to display the Annotation Color palette at the location where the
user last left it. Annotation Color A user can choose a color on
this palette. All drop-down palette types of annotations that the
user makes appear in this color.
[0203] The pointer annotation may be represented with an arrow that
may include the annotator's identifier (e.g., name). A pointer
annotation that has no name on it is for use by a presenter. If
attendees do not have the annotation privilege, there is no need to
display a presenter's name on a pointer annotation to distinguish
it from an attendee's pointer. The length of a pointer annotation
is variable and depends on the length of, for example, a user's
name.
[0204] In some embodiments, the drawing tool palette includes the
elements listed in Table 10. TABLE-US-00011 TABLE 10 Button Tool
Tip Function Highlighter Tool The highlighter tool is selected by
default. A user can click this toggle button to enter and exit an
annotation mode that lets the user draw annotations, using the
highlighter tool, on a document in the content viewer. In this
drawing annotation mode, when the button is in its down state, the
standard arrow pointer changes to the pointer for the highlighter
tool, and a user can draw one or more annotations. Pencil Tool A
user can click this toggle button to enter and exit an annotation
mode that lets the user draw annotations, using the pencil tool, on
a document in the content viewer. In this drawing annotation mode,
when the button is in its down state, the standard arrow pointer
changes to the pointer for the pencil tool, and a user can draw one
or more annotations. Line Tool A user can click this toggle button
to enter and exit an annotation mode that lets the user draw lines,
using the line tool, on a document in the content viewer. In this
drawing annotation mode, when the button is in its down state, the
standard arrow pointer changes to the pointer for the line tool,
and a user can draw one or more lines. Ellipse Tool A user can
click this toggle button to enter and exit an annotation mode that
lets the user draw ellipses, using the ellipse tool, on a document
in the content viewer. In this drawing annotation mode, when the
button is in its down state, the standard arrow pointer changes to
the pointer for the ellipse tool, and a user can draw one or more
ellipses. Rectangle Tool A user can click this toggle button to
enter and exit an annotation mode that lets the user draw
rectangles, using the rectangle tool, on a document in the content
viewer. In this drawing annotation mode, when the button is in its
down state, the standard arrow pointer changes to the pointer for
the rectangle tool, and a user can draw one or more rectangles.
Arrow Tool A user can click this toggle button to enter and exit an
annotation mode that lets the user draw arrows, using the arrow
tool, on a document in the content viewer. In this drawing
annotation mode, when the button is in its down state, the standard
arrow pointer changes to the pointer for the arrow tool, and a user
can draw one or more arrows. Double-Headed Arrow A user can click
this toggle button to enter and Tool exit an annotation mode that
lets the user draw double-headed arrows, using the double-headed
arrow tool on a document in the content viewer. In this drawing
annotation mode, when the button is in its down state, the standard
arrow pointer changes to the pointer for the double- headed arrow
tool, and a user can draw one or more double-headed arrows. Check
Mark Tool A user can click this toggle button to enter and exit an
annotation mode that lets the user draw check marks, using the
check-mark tool, on a document in the content viewer. In this
drawing annotation mode, when the button is in its down state, the
standard arrow pointer changes to the pointer for the check mark
tool, and a user can draw one or more check marks. X-Mark Tool A
user can click this toggle button to enter and exit an annotation
mode that lets the user draw X-marks, using the X-mark tool, on a
document in the content viewer. In this drawing annotation mode,
when the button is in its down state, the standard arrow pointer
changes to the pointer for the X-mark tool, and a user can draw one
or more X-marks. Annotation Color A user can click this toggle
button to display the Annotation Color palette at the location
where the user last left it. As long as the Annotation Color
palette remains open, this button is in its down state. Clicking
the button again closes the Annotation Color palette.
[0205] "Choosing the Privileges . . . " command on the Attendee
menu displays the Attendee Privileges dialog box. FIG. 28
illustrates an Attendee Privileges dialog box 2800 in accordance
with some embodiments of the invention. When a host or presenter
chooses Privileges on the Attendee menu, without selecting an
attendee in the attendee list, the Attendee Privileges dialog box
appears, allowing the host or presenter to modify the privileges of
all attendees. When a host or presenter selects an attendee in the
attendee list, then chooses Privileges on the Attendee menu, the
Attendee Privileges dialog box appears, allowing modification of
the privileges of the selected attendee. Table 11 describes the
elements in the Attendee Privileges dialog box. TABLE-US-00012
TABLE 11 Label of Name Element Function Close (This Title bar
button The Close Button closes the button Attendee Privileges
dialog box. has no label.) All attendees Option button This option
assigns the selected privileges to all attendees. If the host r
presenter chooses Preferences on the Attendee menu without
selecting an attendee list, this option is selected by default.
Selected attendee Option button This option assigns the selected
privileges to only the selected attendee. If the host or presenter
selects an attendee in the attendee list, then chooses Preferences
on the Attendee menu, this option is selected by default. Save
Check box Allows attendees to save a shared document or
presentation. This check box is deselected by default, and for all
attendees, the Save and Save As submenus, and Save All Content
command on the File menu, and the Save button on the toolbar appear
dimmed. Print Check box Allows attendees to print a shared document
or presentation. This check box is deselected by default, and the
attendees' Print submenu on the File menu appears dimmed. Copy
pages Check box Allows attendees to copy pages of a shared document
or presentation. This check box is deselected by default, and the
Copy Page command on the attendees' Edit menu appears dimmed.
Annotate Check box Allows attendees to annotate a shared document,
presentation, application, Web browser, desktop, or whiteboard.
This check box is deselected by default, and for all attendees, the
Clear submenu on the Edit menu and the following elements on the
toolbar appear dimmed: the Pointer Tool and Text Tool buttons;
Highlighter Tool or other drawing tool button, and drop- down menu;
Eraser Tool button and drop-down menu, and Annotation Color button
and drop-down palette. This option now encompasses the ability to
insert arrow annotations, called pointers. Transfer Check box
Allows attendees to transfer files. This check box is deselected by
default, and the Transfer command on the attendees' File menu
appears dimmed. Attendee list Check box Allows attendees to view
the content in the attendee list. This check box is selected by
default. Attendees can always view the host and presenter in the
attendee list, regardless of whether this check box is selected.
Video Check box Allows attendees to view video. This check box is
deselected by default, and the Video option in the attendees' Panel
drop-down list box appears dimmed. Thumbnails Check box Allows
attendees to view the thumbnail viewer, and use it to navigate to
and view any page of a shared document, presentation or whiteboard.
This check box is deselected by default, and for all attendees, the
Thumbnails command on the View menu and the View Thumbnails button
on the toolbar appear dimmed. When the attendee displays the
thumbnail viewer, it appears in only that attendee's Meeting Center
window. Navigating to another page using the controls in the
thumbnail viewer affects only that attendee's view of the shared
document, presentation, or whiteboard. Any page Check box Allows
attendees to navigate to and view any page of a shared document,
presentation, or white board, by clicking either the Go To
drop-down combo box, or the Previous Slide or Next Slide button on
the toolbar. This check box is deselected by default, and for all
attendees, the Synchronize My Display command on the View menu, and
Go To drop-down combo box, and Previous Slide, Next Slide, and
Synchronize My Display buttons on the toolbar appear dimmed. When
an attendee navigates to another page, it affects only that
attendee's view of the shared document, presentation, or
whiteboard. Record the Check box Allows attendees to record the
Meeting meeting, and save the recording on their own hard disks or
servers. This check box is deselected by default, and the start
Recording and Recording Options commands on the Tools menu appear
dimmed. Share documents Check box Allows attendees to share
documents, presentations, and whiteboards, and paste pages of a
shared document or presentation. This check box is deselected by
default, and for all attendees, the New Page command, Open submenu,
and Close command on the File menu; Presentation or Document,
Application, Web Browser, Desktop, and Whiteboard commands on the
Share menu; and Open, Share Presentation or Document, and Laser
Pointer buttons on the toolbar appear dimmed. Public chat Check box
Allows attendees to participate in public chat. The check box is
deselected by default. Private chat Check box Allows attendees to
participate in private chat. This check box is selected by default.
Host Check box Allows attendees to chat privately with the meeting
host. This option is selected by default. If the host or presenter
deselects this check box, the options Host and Host and presenter
appear dimmed in the attendees' Send to drop-down list box on the
Chat tab. Presenter Check box Allows attendees to chat privately
with the current presenter. This option is selected by default. If
the host or presenter deselects this check box, the Host and
presenter option appears dimmed in the attendees' Send to drop-down
list box on the Chat tab. All attendees Check box Allows attendees
to chat with all other attendees. This option is deselected by
default. If the host or presenter selects this check box, all
attendees' names appear in the Send drop-down list box on the Chat
tab and are available. All attendee Check box S elects all other
check boxes in the privileges Attendee Privilege dialog box. Assign
Button Clicking this button closes the Attendee Privileges dialog
box and applies changes to the attendee- privilege settings on all
tabs. The Meeting Center window again becomes the active window.
This button is the default button. Cancel Button Clicking Cancel
closes the Attendee Privileges dialog box without changing any
settings, and the Meeting Center window again becomes the active
window.
[0206] Microsoft, Word, PowerPoint, Internet Explorer, and Windows
are trademarks of Microsoft, Inc. Shockwave and Flash are
trademarks of Macromedia, Inc. QuickTime is a trademark of Apple
Computer, Inc. Real is a trademark of RealNetworks, Inc. DB2 is a
trademark of International Business Machines, Inc. Oracle is a
trademark of Oracle, Corp. Pentium is a trademark of Intel, Corp.
UltraSparc is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. Corel and
WordPerfect are trademarks of Corel Corporation.
[0207] Although the invention has been described with reference to
particular embodiments, the description is only an example of the
invention's application and should not be taken as a
limitation.
[0208] The order in which the steps of the present technique are
performed is purely illustrative in nature. In fact, the stages in
the flow diagrams described herein may be performed in any order or
in parallel, unless otherwise indicated by the present
disclosure.
[0209] The technique of the present invention may be performed in
either hardware, software, or any combination thereof. In
particular, the invention may be carried out by software, firmware,
microcode operating on a computer or computers of any type.
[0210] Additionally, software embodying the invention comprise
computer instructions in any form (e.g., source code, object code,
interpreted code) stored in any computer-readable medium (e.g.,
ROM, RAM, magnetic media, punched tape or card, CD, DVD). Thus, the
invention may be tangibly embodied as software in a
computer-readable device or media, such as memory, data storage
devices, and/or data communication devices, thereby making a
product or article of manufacture according to the invention. As
such, the terms "article of manufacture" and "computer program
product" and "computer-readable storage medium" as used herein are
intended to encompass software accessible from any computer
readable device or media.
[0211] Furthermore, such software may also be in the form of a
computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, such as that found
within the well-known Web pages transferred among computers
connected to the Internet. Accordingly the present invention is not
limited to any particular platform unless specifically stated
otherwise in the present disclosure. Using the present
specification, the invention may be implemented as a machine,
process, or article of manufacture by using programming and/or
engineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or
any combination thereof.
[0212] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in
the art that changes and modifications may be made without
departing from this invention in its broader aspect, and,
therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope
all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit
of this invention.
* * * * *
References